Overview

A ventricular septal defect, VSD is one of the heart defects that present themselves at birth. This condition presents with an opening in the partition that separates the lower chambers of the heart, known as the ventricles.

What is a ventricular septal defect VSD in children?

This is a congenital heart condition characterized by the presence of a hole in the wall that separates the two lower chambers of the heart. Known as VSD, this defect is always associated with other heart issues. Though small VSD may be asymptomatic, a larger hole may require surgery to prevent future complications and damage.

Who is it common to? 

The maturity of VSDs is natural, meaning they are congenital, existing at birth. Generally, a VSD is diagnosed during non age, although it can also do in grown-ups. This is rare, counting for only 10 or lower of cases. Unseasonable babies and babies with specific inheritable conditions are slightly more prone to developing a VSD. In very rare cases, a myocardial infarction may cause the creation of a tear between the ventricles, subsequently resulting in the development of a VSD. This particular variation of VSD is known as ventricular septal rupture (VSR), Although it is considered a secondary effect, it is still life-threatening and is to be taken in acute form. 

What are the different types of Ventricular septal defect (VSD) in children?

There are four main types of VSD, classified on the basis of their location and the configuration of the defect (or defects). The types of VSD are

1. Membranous: This is the newest type of VSD, accounting for about 80 of the cases. These VSDs occur in the atrioventricular end of the wall between the ventricles.
2. Muscle: These account for about 20 of VSDs in infants, and often involve multiple holes as a characteristic of the defect.
3. Inlet: This is one of the forms of ventricular septal deformity located immediately below the tricuspid valve in the right ventricle and the mitral valve in the left ventricle. Therefore, whenever there is an inflow into the ventricles, it therefore cuts across a VSD connecting them.
4. Outlet (conoventricular): In this particular type of VSD, there remains a hole in the right ventricle near the pulmonary valve and also a hole in the left ventricle near to the aortic valve, thus connecting both the chambers. Thus, this blood has to pass through the VSD covering both the valves.

What are the symptoms of Ventricular septal defects (VSD) in children?

Congenital heart disease symptoms, including ventricular septal disfigurement, can occur within a few months or weeks in the life of an infant. Once again, the severity of a VSD's symptoms will depend on its size and if there are new heart anomalies. A small VSD may never have symptoms.

Signs of VSD in infants may include the following:

• Poor appetite
• Slow or shy physical growth failure to thrive.
• Rapid breathing or briefness of breath
• Fatiguing quickly
• A wheezing sound when the heart is listened to using a stethoscope heart murmur. What causes ventricular septal defects (VSD)?
• Ventricular septal defects (VSDs) form during fetal development in utero.
• A one or more openings of various sizes, caused by the deficient conformation of the muscular wall that divides the two sides of the heart.

While the possible cause of VSDs in most cases is not established, genetics and environmental conditions may play a contributory role. Isolated or combined with other congenital heart defects, such defects can occur. While in most cases a ventricular septal defect can occur spontaneously, in some cases, it is caused by a heart attack or other cardiac procedures.

What could be some of the tests done to diagnose a child's Ventricular septal defects (VSD) in children?

A hole in the wall between the lower chambers of the heart is known as a ventricular septal defect (VSD). To find out if a child has a VSD, there are numerous tests that the doctor will probably employ and these are:

• Physical Examination
• Echocardiogram- This test captures the heart's electrical activity. It may help in identifying any abnormal cardiac rhythms which might be associated with a VSD.
• Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) - In this test, the electrical activity of the heart is recorded. This can help detect abnormalities in the heart rhythm that may be related to a VSD.
• Chest X-ray- A chest X-ray depicts the size and shape of the heart and other clinical symptoms of heart failure, if present.
• Cardiac Catheterization- There may at times be the need to perform cardiac catheterization in order to affirm the diagnosis and establish the severity of the VSD. In this procedure, a small tube is placed in one of the arteries in the arm or groin and advanced into the heart. The use of injection dye makes the heart and VSD more visible.

What medications/treatments are used?

Medications can be administered before any type of surgery which may relieve symptoms of VSD, especially if the condition is considered to close spontaneously with time. Medications that heart failure patients commonly receive are similar to drugs used in VSD patients. These include:

• Diuretics: These medications increase the amount of fluid your body's kidneys excrete. That's useful if fluid builds up around your heart, a common response to heart failure. These drugs could make you urinate more frequently.
• Heart Failure Medications: These drugs control your heart rate and force with which it pumps. Digoxin is another very common drug used for heart failure; sometimes in VSD as well.

Is there a cure and how is it treated?

Most VSDs are too small to be problematic, and by the time a child is six years old, they will probably close spontaneously.

In those cases, most physicians would probably advise against surgery, recommend follow-up for any potential symptoms, and wait to see if the defect closes spontaneously. If your VSD is of moderate size or larger, it is likely that your doctor will advise that the hole should be plugged so that the VSD is corrected. Here are two ways of repairing VSD-

• Surgery: The most reliable closure technique of a VSD is surgery. A cardiac or heart surgeon will operate and seal the hole to achieve this. It may only require sewing the hole closed depending on its size and location. It can be, in some cases, a synthetic material patch or even a tissue graft from one's own body.
• Transcatheter interventions: Similar to cardiac catheterization, in this procedure, an intervention enters the heart through a major artery using a transcatheter (catheter-based) technique. Once it reaches the defect, this catheter device may deliver an occluder—a specialized tool—to close up the opening. Primarily, such occluders possess a meshwork of mesh covered with synthetic material.

In both of the above scenarios, the patch should be covered in and around by the tissue in your heart. The patch or gadget should eventually fuse with the heart wall between the ventricles.

If a baby or child does not gain weight or grow at the rate that is expected, their healthcare provider may suggest the following supplements to ensure the child receives enough nutrition. Sometimes, this involves a feeding tube or specialized diet.

What are some ways I could prevent this condition or make myself less likely to get it?

Measures against VSD are quite impossible because the causes are still unknown. However, avoiding alcohol and some anti-seizure drugs while pregnant may decrease the chances.

Why Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Pediatric Ventricular Septal Defects?

Tender Palm Hospital has the most experienced team of Pediatric Cardiologists, Pediatric Cardiac Surgeons, and diagnostics with the latest and International standard infection control measures in Lucknow, India. The Pediatric Cardiac Science Centre team has decades of experience in successfully treating Pediatric Ventricular Septal Defects.

To seek an expert consultation for Pediatric Ventricular Septal Defects in Lucknow, India

Call us at +91-9076972161
Email at care@tenderpalm.com

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